Spaces to connect, learn, and collaborate.

Our first meeting of 2026 will open with a discussion of the Federal Child Care Funding Freeze and Regulatory Rollback and what these changes could mean for early childhood systems in our region. We will build on insights from the funder briefing referenced above on what funders need to know, watch, and be thinking about … Continue reading Early Childhood Funder Collaborative Meeting

Join Catalyst staff and outside experts for the first of our four-part Fundamentals 101 series covering the “nuts and bolts” of Philanthropy. This series will provide attendees with comprehensive insights into various philanthropic practices, along with opportunities for networking and collaboration. Key Topics Covered: Types of Philanthropy and Foundations: Learn more about the many different … Continue reading Fundamentals Academy Session 1: Trust-Based Philanthropy

Advocacy is a powerful way for funders to extend the impact of their grantmaking. While funding often responds to immediate needs, advocacy helps shape the policy environment that influences long-term outcomes. Used thoughtfully, it allows dollars to go further and supports more durable change. This session introduces advocacy as a practical tool that funders—and their … Continue reading Fundamentals Academy Session 2: Advocacy 101

Join Catalyst’s first 2026 gathering of the Corporate Members Community of Practice, a corporate-only spaces will provide a space to facilitate learning, share best practices, and foster connections among CSR professionals in our region. Our first meeting will include an overview of how corporate funders can utilize our newly launched Catalyst Data Hub, an open-access … Continue reading Corporate Members Community of Practice

In collaboration with Grantmakers in the Arts (GIA), Catalyst members are invited to a community conversation about GIA’s National Conference coming to the San Diego–Tijuana region in October 2027. Join us for an in-person gathering to connect with fellow arts and culture funders and help inform the themes, content, and regional stories that will be … Continue reading Preparing for the GIA 2027 Conference: San Diego–Tijuana Funders Roundtable

As the nonprofit and philanthropic landscapes continue to shift, philanthropic leaders are being called to navigate complex decisions, evolving expectations, and increasing pressure to ensure their structures and practices reflect their values. During this discussion with Marcus Walton, President and CEO at Grantmakers in Effective Organizations (GEO), we will discuss how philanthropic governance and leadership … Continue reading Leadership for This Moment: Member Lunch with GEO’s Marcus Walton

Join Catalyst’s first 2026 gathering of our Family Foundations Community of Practice, a funder-only space designed for learning, knowledge exchange, and connection with fellow family foundation peers and staff. At this first meeting of the year, we will offer a deep dive into the findings from the 2025 Pulse of the Practice report, Catalyst’s regional … Continue reading Family Foundations Community of Practice

Join us for the third session of our four-part Fundamentals Academy to learn about the key indicators of nonprofit financial health and ways to refine the practices funders choose for assessing nonprofit fiscal health. Nonprofit financial statements can often feel like an overwhelming wall of numbers, making it hard to extract actionable insights, and traditional … Continue reading Fundamentals Academy Session 3: Understanding Nonprofit Financial Health & Reframing Financial Due Diligence

Through sustained collaboration with aligned nonprofits, organizations can reduce duplicative work, strengthen internal operations, and focus more of their time and energy where it matters most: serving their communities. Catalyst is excited to bring the Nonprofit Sustainability Initiative San Diego (NSI SD) to our region. This webinar will introduce funders to NSI SD and offer insights … Continue reading Nonprofit Sustainability Initiative San Diego Launch

Join fellow climate funders from the Baja, Imperial, and San Diego region to connect around shared interests and engage with peers active in, or exploring, climate-related issues and opportunities. Together, we will explore how a regional funder collaborative can amplify impact and help leverage regional, statewide, and national funding streams to support climate‑resilient communities. At … Continue reading Climate Funder Collaborative April Meeting

Impact investing is a powerful but underutilized tool for funders to align investments with social impact and environmental goals, amplify their impact, and potentially create a sustainable source of funding for future initiatives. Curious to learn more? During the fourth and final session of our Fundamentals Academy, participants will get a 101-level overview to build … Continue reading Fundamentals Academy Session 4: Impact Investing

This meeting of the Binational Migration Funders, a Catalyst Funder Collaborative, will focus on debriefing the May 7th Funder Briefing led by the San Diego Regional Solidarity Collective, working to support and protect San Diego’s immigrant and refugee communities. If you would like to attend the May 7th funder briefing, please contact Megan Thomas for … Continue reading Binational Migration Funders: Regional Strategy Debrief